RVC appoints director of new general practice division
“It is essential for the veterinary sector that successful, sustainable general veterinary practices thrive” – Katharine Nelson.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has appointed veterinary surgeon Katharine Nelson as its first director of general practice.
She will lead the RVC’s new general practice division when she takes up the role later this year.
The division has been created to develop the RVC’s general practices through improved operational delivery, collaboration, and knowledge sharing between its general practice sites.
Dr Nelson will be joining from the RVC-owned Acorn House Veterinary Hospital in Bedford. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, she has worked at the practice for the past 21 years as practice principal. Earlier this year, she was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for services to clinical practice.
As director of general practice, her role will be to uphold high standards of care, teaching and research and raise the profile of general practice within the veterinary profession. She will also form part of the RVC’s clinical leadership team, which is responsible for the strategic direction, delivery and accountability of the general practices.
Dr Nelson said: “It is essential for the veterinary sector that successful, sustainable general veterinary practices thrive; that a career in general practice is valued and respected by the profession; and that the knowledge and experience of general practitioners is considered alongside that of veterinary specialists as the profession evolves.
“For these reasons, I am delighted to be taking up the role of director of general practice at the Royal Veterinary College.
“By leading the RVC’s general practice sites to pursue the highest standards of contextualised care, research and teaching, I am looking forward to shaping the student experience to produce a generation of veterinary surgeons ideally prepared to care for the patients and clients in the communities they serve.”
Amanda Boag, vice-principal for clinical services at the RVC, said: “I am delighted that Katharine Nelson will be joining the RVC in our new role of director of general practice.
“Katharine has spent her clinical career in general practice and brings with her a wealth of clinical and operational experience that will help us evolve our general practice sites and provide our students with the best possible experiential learning.”
Image © RVC
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
